Royal Oak, Mich., March 3, 2006 – The Detroit Zoo’s Summer Safari camp is back and wilder than ever!  Children ages 4-13 can explore the wonders of the animal kingdom through tours of the Detroit Zoo, hands-on activities, games, arts and crafts.  Campers can choose from a variety of half-day, all-day, overnight and week-long sessions geared toward specific age groups.  Summer Safari is designed to spark an interest in and respect for wildlife, conservation and animal welfare. 

New half-day adventures include “Butterflies and Bugs,” “Hiding Out,” “Bear Tracks” and “Animal Care 101.”  Returning half-day adventures include “Dino Digs,” “Frog Hop,” “Animal Enrichment,” “Predator Prowl,” “Urban Safari” and “Polar Researcher.”  The cost for a half-day adventure is $30 for Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) members and $35 for non-members.  New all-day adventures are “Survivor Styles” and “ZSI: Carnivores.”  All-day adventures are $75 for DZS members and $85 for non-members.

Overnight adventures allow campers to spend a night at the Zoo’s Ford Education Center and discover what nocturnal animals do while the rest of the world is asleep.  “Zoo Snoozzz” for ages 8-10 includes a late-night wandering, a bug search, a craft project, a marshmallow roast, a zookeeper talk and breakfast with the giraffes.  The “Zoo Snoozzz” adventure is $75 for DZS members and $85 for non-members.  “Overnight Extreme” for 11-13 year olds includes a special late-night tour of the Zoo, an animal enrichment session and zookeeper encounter at breakfast, in-depth animal observations, field sketching, a simulator ride, behind-the-scenes tours of exhibits and meetings with animal care staff.  The “Overnight Extreme” adventure is $115 for DZS members and $125 for non-members.

This year’s all-day week-long adventure is “Earth Trek,” where campers will explore the Zoo’s many habitats and observe animal adaptations and behaviors first-hand.  The cost is $225 for DZS members and $235 for non-members.  The first half-day week-long adventure is “Wild Things,” where campers will observe the fascinating behaviors of a variety of animals from aardvarks to zebras.  The second half-day week-long adventure is “Animal Creativity,” where campers will explore the innovative ways animals communicate and behave in their habitats.  The cost for the half-day week-long adventures is $105 for DZS members and $115 for non-members.

Parents can drop daytime campers off early or pick them up late and let them enjoy before- and after-camp activities with the Early Bird and Late Owl groups.  Campers will play games, have snacks, watch short animal-related films, and listen to stories while supervised by camp staff in the Ford Education Center’s themed interpretive studios.  Early Bird drop-off starts at 7:30 a.m. and Late Owl pick-up runs until 5:30 p.m.  Early Bird and Late Owl costs are $10 for a single session, $50 for Monday through Friday mornings or afternoons, and $90 for Monday through Friday mornings and afternoons.

Registration forms and additional information are available on the Zoo’s web site at www.detroitzoo.org, by emailing education@detroitzoo.org, or by calling (248) 541-5717ext. 3750.  Priority registration is being accepted by mail through April 1.   

The Detroit Zoological Institute is comprised of the Detroit Zoo and the Belle Isle Nature Zoo.  Founded in 1928, the Institute is committed to celebrating and saving wildlife.  Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak.  Winter hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., November through March, with several indoor viewing areas.  Admission is $11.00 for adults 13 to 61, $9.00 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7.00 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free.  For more information, call (248) 398-0900 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.  The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is currently undergoing renovation but provides some programming, with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks, on Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on weekdays with advance reservations by calling (313) 852-4056.  The Detroit Zoological Society works to promote the general welfare and interests of the Institute.  Financial support has allowed the Zoo to open new exhibits, develop important education and conservation programs and implement major beautification projects.  To help the Detroit Zoological Society through financial support, partnership opportunities, membership or volunteering, please call (248) 541-5717.
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